London: Chelsea coach Claudio Ranieri wept on the Highbury pitch and was mad with joy after his team beat Arsenal 2-1 on Tuesday to earn a place in the Champions League semi-finals for the first time.

“To describe my joy is difficult...I was mad...30 seconds of delirium.” Chelsea, drawing 1-1 after the first leg, had not beaten their city rivals in 17 matches, 14 of them under Ranieri.

“This victory can change something,” Ranieri said. “We must believe in ourselves. It is history,” he added.

Chelsea have never before progressed beyond the Chamopions League quarter finals.

Ranieri said he was not pleased to be meeting Monaco in the semi-finals after the French side came from behind to beat Real Madrid on away goals.

“It’s not good news because I know Real Madrid very well,” said Ranieri.

“Monaco have very good players, a good coach and a good fitness coach,” he said.

Ranieri added, however, that after Tuesday’s victory anything was possible. “Champions League is a gamble.”

Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger, who last week was looking at a treble of trophies, conceded that the defeat was a big blow after Saturday’s 0-1 loss to Manchester United in the FA Cup.

“Once you hit the wall it takes some time to recover,” he said, adding that it would be difficult to lift his players for Premier League matches at home to Liverpool on Friday and away at Newcastle United on Sunday.

Arsenal lead the table by four points from Chelsea but also have a game in hand.